We all deserve better, Jamaica!

by Jean Lowrie-Chin | Observer column | Monday 18 August 2014

Today, the day after we celebrate the birthday of our first National Hero, Marcus Mosiah Garvey, we are still asking why the teachings of this great man are not part of our school curriculum.  Garvey produced numerous books – academics and authors like Professor Rupert Lewis, Dr Robert Hill, Ken Jones and Geoffrey Philp have explored his work and philosophy – there is a wealth of information that can be shared with children at every stage of their lives.  How I would love to hear our infant school children recite, “Up you mighty race – you can accomplish what you will!” Garvey’s passion for learning, enterprise and self-respect is what we need now more than ever. 

If our leaders, our educators, police officers had been brought up reciting his words, we would have reached so much further as a country.  This issue of self-respect goes deeper than we realise, because if we do not respect ourselves, we will have but a minus quantity of respect for anyone who looks like us.

Strange that a local policeman couldn't believe a Black youngster could drive a legit Benz!

A successful professional lady told me that she was afraid for her son’s life and would rather he live abroad than in Jamaica after he was pulled over and roughed up by the police. She had loaned her handsome cool-black son her Mercedes Benz.  “They accused him of stealing the car and refused to listen to him when he tried to explain it was his mother’s car!” she said bitterly.  She said her son was very shaken up by the incident.  I understand that the young man now lives in a country where he is part of a small minority of Blacks – yet he has experienced virtually no disrespect in that country.

Garvey would have wept

Mario Deane

Marcus Garvey would have wept over the Mario Deane story.  He would have wept not only for the suffering and loss of a young man in the full flower of his life, but also for his damaged cellmates and our spiritually wounded police force. Paul Reid’s report in last Thursday’s Observer that Deane was locked up over a mere ganja cigarette and was kept in a cell with a schizophrenic exposes a system with wide cracks through which too many are falling.

Even as we welcome amendments to our laws, particularly the recent passage of the Disabilities Act, we are aware that there are so many laws to protect our citizens that are not being enforced.  We need to love ourselves more, we deserve better but we have to believe that we do.

My family is a multi-racial one, and when my son (of African ancestry) reached ‘party age’ I died many deaths waiting for him to get home safely in the wee hours.  When I think of the terrible thoughts I have had as I counted the minutes, I cannot even imagine how the family of Mario Deane is coping. 

There was also a report that the sister of one of the cellmates accused of Deane’s murder had reported him missing to the Police several weeks before the incident, and only discovered the whereabouts of her brother when she heard the news report.

“O kinsmen, we have fled to brutish beasts, and men have lost their reason!” 

The words of Shakespeare’s Mark Antony at Julius Caesar’s funeral ring in my head: “O kinsmen, we have fled to brutish beasts, and men have lost their reason!”  Clearly, those of us who call ourselves ‘well-thinking Jamaicans’ have dropped the ball.  Have we been so cossetted by our tight social circles that we feel immune to the inhumanity around us?  Our Christianity is being tested – the pious politicians who read lessons at funeral services are being tested.  We need more Jamaicans to walk in the light and cease those activities in the dark of the night. 

‘see and blind, hear and deaf’

This system has forced good police to do wrong under threat of demotion and even loss of jobs.  Some have become thugs – the confession of a dying policeman as related to me by a health worker would make your skin crawl. Others have learned to ‘see and blind, hear and deaf’. One senior officer, now departed, was threatened by his colleagues because he turned in all of the millions of dollars he had found during an operation.  He came to me in terror begging me to identify for him, someone in the high command that I felt he could trust to share his plight.  I did, but it seems the threats did not stop and the poor man worried himself into a premature death.

If we do not resolve to choose a path of righteousness, we will all be affected and some who consider themselves safe will find themselves wringing their hands in grief.

'barbaric, evil' Isis - Muslim leader in Britain

Quoted from Report Aug 20 2014 from UK Independent:

Mohammed Shafiq, chief executive of the Ramadhan Foundation, said Muslims abhorred terrorists fighting for "evil" Isis.
He told The Independent: "In terms of James Foley, we condemn his death without reservation. We see that as an attack not just on an individual but an attack on everyone. We believe in the sanctity of life and they have distorted Islamic teaching to justify their brutal acts.
"The Koran is very clear about sanctity of life and rules on warfare. Nowhere in those rule does it say anything about beheading people or being barbaric in this way.
"Isis is a barbaric, evil terrorist organisation that needs to be confronted. They don't represent Islam, it does not represent Muslims or Muslim organisations and they need to be stopped."
In a statement, the Muslim Council of Britain condemned Isis' actions in the Middle East: "Each day ISIS seeks to carry out an act more barbarous than the day before, craving the oxygen of publicity to give credibility to their heinous acts. We condemn unreservedly their psychopathic violence, whether it is on minorities, on civilians, or on fellow Muslims.
"Isis does not speak for Islam, and has been repudiated by all Muslims. Their message only appeals to those who are easily duped by their twisted message purporting to be Islam."

Map of the Caribbean

Let's try to memorise the location of our Caribbean neighbours!

Mario Deane beaten, stabbed over use of bed, court told

Mario Deane - from The Jamaica Observer

BY PAUL A REID | Observer writer | 14 Aug 2014 

reidp@jamaicaobserver.com 

MONTEGO BAY, St James — Mario Deane was allegedly beaten and stabbed by three men in a cell he shared with them at the Barnett Street lock-up over the use of a bunk bed, the court heard yesterday.
One of the accused, Marvin Orr, who was described by his attorney Stacy Young as "schizophrenic" and a substance abuser, was denied bail by Senior Resident Magistrate Carolin Tie when he faced the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.
In her bail application, Young said her client was in need of medication and would not be able to access it while in custody, and suggested a private facility where he was once a patient. RM Tie, however, said he could be treated at the psychiatric facilities at the Tower Street Adult Correctional facility in Kingston.
Orr and Adrian Morgan were both charged in connection with Deane's death, but Morgan was not in court yesterday as he was said to have been getting psychiatric treatment, on order of the court, in connection with another case. A third man who the court heard is deaf/mute was being questioned and was expected to be charged as well.

Read more here ....
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Mario-Dean-beaten--stabbed-over-use-of-bed--court-told_17351341

WHO Chikungunya fact sheet

Fact sheet N°327

Updated March 2014
from WHO Media centre 

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Most commonly, the mosquitoes involved are Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, two species which can also transmit other mosquito-borne viruses, including dengue.

Key facts

• Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. It causes fever and severe joint pain. Other symptoms include muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash.
• The disease shares some clinical signs with dengue, and can be misdiagnosed in areas where dengue is common.
• There is no cure for the disease. Treatment is focused on relieving the symptoms.
• The proximity of mosquito breeding sites to human habitation is a significant risk factor for chikungunya.
• Since 2004, chikungunya fever has reached epidemic proportions, with considerable morbidity and suffering.
• The disease occurs in Africa, Asia and the Indian subcontinent. In recent decades mosquito vectors of chikungunya have spread to Europe and the Americas. In 2007, disease transmission was reported for the first time in a localized outbreak in north-eastern Italy.

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Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne viral disease first described during an outbreak in southern Tanzania in 1952. It is an RNA virus that belongs to the alphavirus genus of the family Togaviridae. The name ‘chikungunya’ derives from a word in the Kimakonde language, meaning "to become contorted" and describes the stooped appearance of sufferers with joint pain (arthralgia).

Signs and symptoms

Chikungunya is characterized by an abrupt onset of fever frequently accompanied by joint pain. Other common signs and symptoms include muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash. The joint pain is often very debilitating, but usually lasts for a few days or may be prolonged to weeks.
Most patients recover fully, but in some cases joint pain may persist for several months, or even years. Occasional cases of eye, neurological and heart complications have been reported, as well as gastrointestinal complaints. Serious complications are not common, but in older people, the disease can contribute to the cause of death. Often symptoms in infected individuals are mild and the infection may go unrecognized, or be misdiagnosed in areas where dengue occurs.

Transmission

Chikungunya has been identified in nearly 40 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and also in the Americas.

WHO

The virus is transmitted from human to human by the bites of infected female mosquitoes. Most commonly, the mosquitoes involved are Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, two species which can also transmit other mosquito-borne viruses, including dengue. These mosquitoes can be found biting throughout daylight hours, though there may be peaks of activity in the early morning and late afternoon. Both species are found biting outdoors, but Ae. aegypti will also readily feed indoors.
After the bite of an infected mosquito, onset of illness occurs usually between four and eight days but can range from two to 12 days.

Diagnosis

Several methods can be used for diagnosis. Serological tests, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), may confirm the presence of IgM and IgG anti-chikungunya antibodies. IgM antibody levels are highest three to five weeks after the onset of illness and persist for about two months. Samples collected during the first week after the onset of symptoms should be tested by both serological and virological methods (RT-PCR).
The virus may be isolated from the blood during the first few days of infection. Various reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) methods are available but are of variable sensitivity. Some are suited to clinical diagnosis. RT–PCR products from clinical samples may also be used for genotyping of the virus, allowing comparisons with virus samples from various geographical sources.

Treatment

There is no specific antiviral drug treatment for Chikungunya. Treatment is directed primarily at relieving the symptoms, including the joint pain using anti-pyretics, optimal analgesics and fluids. There is no commercial chikungunya vaccine.

Prevention and control

The proximity of mosquito vector breeding sites to human habitation is a significant risk factor for chikungunya as well as for other diseases that these species transmit. Prevention and control relies heavily on reducing the number of natural and artificial water-filled container habitats that support breeding of the mosquitoes. This requires mobilization of affected communities. During outbreaks, insecticides may be sprayed to kill flying mosquitoes, applied to surfaces in and around containers where the mosquitoes land, and used to treat water in containers to kill the immature larvae.
For protection during outbreaks of chikungunya, clothing which minimizes skin exposure to the day-biting vectors is advised. Repellents can be applied to exposed skin or to clothing in strict accordance with product label instructions. Repellents should contain DEET (N, N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide), IR3535 (3-[N-acetyl-N-butyl]-aminopropionic acid ethyl ester) or icaridin (1-piperidinecarboxylic acid, 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-methylpropylester). For those who sleep during the daytime, particularly young children, or sick or older people, insecticide treated mosquito nets afford good protection. Mosquito coils or other insecticide vaporizers may also reduce indoor biting.
Basic precautions should be taken by people traveling to risk areas and these include use of repellents, wearing long sleeves and pants and ensuring rooms are fitted with screens to prevent mosquitoes from entering.

Disease outbreaks

Chikungunya occurs in Africa, Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Human infections in Africa have been at relatively low levels for a number of years, but in 1999-2000 there was a large outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and in 2007 there was an outbreak in Gabon.
Starting in February 2005, a major outbreak of chikungunya occurred in islands of the Indian Ocean. A large number of imported cases in Europe were associated with this outbreak, mostly in 2006 when the Indian Ocean epidemic was at its peak. A large outbreak of chikungunya in India occurred in 2006 and 2007. Several other countries in South-East Asia were also affected. Since 2005, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Maldives and Myanmar have reported over 1.9 million cases. In 2007 transmission was reported for the first time in Europe, in a localized outbreak in north-eastern Italy. There were 197 cases recorded during this outbreak and it confirmed that mosquito-borne outbreaks by Ae. Albopictus are plausible in Europe.
In December 2013, France reported 2 laboratory-confirmed autochthonous (native) cases of chikungunya in the French part of the Caribbean island of St Martin. Since then, local transmission has been confirmed in the Dutch part of Saint Martin [St Maarten], Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and St Barthelemy. Aruba only reported imported cases.
This is the first documented outbreak of chikungunya with autochthonous transmission in the Americas.
As of 6 March 2014, there have been over 8000 suspected cases in the region.

More about disease vectors

Both Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus have been implicated in large outbreaks of chikungunya. Whereas Ae. aegypti is confined within the tropics and sub-tropics, Ae. albopictus also occurs in temperate and even cold temperate regions. In recent decades Ae. albopictus has spread from Asia to become established in areas of Africa, Europe and the Americas.
The species Ae. albopictus thrives in a wider range of water-filled breeding sites than Ae. aegypti, including coconut husks, cocoa pods, bamboo stumps, tree holes and rock pools, in addition to artificial containers such as vehicle tyres and saucers beneath plant pots. This diversity of habitats explains the abundance of Ae. albopictus in rural as well as peri-urban areas and shady city parks.
Ae. aegypti is more closely associated with human habitation and uses indoor breeding sites, including flower vases, water storage vessels and concrete water tanks in bathrooms, as well as the same artificial outdoor habitats as Ae. albopictus.
In Africa several other mosquito vectors have been implicated in disease transmission, including species of the A. furcifer-taylori group and A. luteocephalus. There is evidence that some animals, including non-primates, rodents, birds and small mammals may act as reservoirs.

WHO response

WHO responds to chikungunya by:

• formulating evidence-based outbreak management plans;
• providing technical support and guidance to countries for the effective management of cases and outbreaks;
• supporting countries to improve their reporting systems;
• providing training on clinical management, diagnosis and vector control at the regional level with some of its collaborating centres;
• publishing guidelines and handbooks for case management, vector control for Member States.

For more information contact:

WHO Media centre
Telephone: +41 22 791 2222
E-mail: mediainquiries@who.int

"Make no little plans. They have no magic ..."

by Patrick Hylton, Managing Director of the NCB Group.
The following are excerpts from remarks made by Patrick Hylton at the PSOJ President's Forum on July 22, 2014.
JAMAICA is undergoing a transformation, as part of our economic programme, which is an important foundation for sustainable growth. All stakeholders — public and private sector and ordinary citizens — must play a role.
Today, the pervasive question is: Where is the growth? The burning platform for growth is further fuelled by the fast-changing global environment in which we operate. Technology and digitisation have lowered barriers to entry, changed the competitive landscape and raised our customers' expectations and expanded their options. It is in the interest of every firm to make the adjustments required to survive or thrive in this new norm. Jack Welch often said: "If the rate of change on the outside is greater than the change on the inside, the end is near."
It is my strong belief that the growth we seek can be unlocked with transformation.
Transformation means significant and meaningful change; change that makes people doubtful, uncomfortable and even resistant. It requires changes in both mindset and behaviour. It is the failure to transform one's mindset that often leads to failure.
It may be our natural disposition to doubt the growth possibilities given challenging circumstances:
* In 1943, Thomas Watson, president of IBM, said: "I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."
* In 1946, Darryl Zanuck, executive at 20th Century Fox said: "Television won't be able to hold on to any market it captures after the first six months. People will soon get tired of staring at a plywood box every night."
* In 1977, Ken Olsen founder of Digital Equipment Corporation said: "There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."
Once you transform your mindset, then you also need to transform your businesses. In every recession, you find companies that grow. In the 2007/2008 US recession, Apple, Starbucks and Wal-Mart grew. Before Apple became the company we know today, it was a company with declining performance, focusing primarily on computers before it transformed the marketplace for mobile computing devices and portable entertainment. In 2003, when Apple introduced the iPod, its market capitalisation was approximately $1 billion and today Apple's market cap is in excess of $500 billion dollars.
You can also find growth in low-growth economies. Digicel received its telecommunications licence in 2000, when Jamaica's real GDP growth was 0.2 per cent. This set the stage for transformation of the telecommunications landscape in Jamaica and tremendous business growth for Digicel.
National Commercial Bank (NCB) has been on a transformation journey since 2011. We recognised that we had a model that had not changed in decades while financial services were changing dramatically globally.

FIVE-STEP TRANSFORMATION
We have been using a five-step transformation framework developed by McKinsey and Company.
STEP 1: ASPIRE — This answers the question What do we want to achieve?
At NCB, we set an aspiration to become one of the top five financial services institutions in the English-and Spanish-speaking Caribbean. Another aspiration was to triple our sales productivity. We heard this aspiration was not achievable because of economic and technological constraints. However, we revamped our sales methodology and tripled sales productivity in less than six months. This played a role in offsetting losses related to the Jamaica Debt Exchange and led to NCB becoming the #1 bank based on profitability for the first time in its history. In terms of our regional aspirations, we are successfully progressing toward this goal. One of the lessons learned in the aspiration-setting process is that you need to be bold. Complaints, cynicism, and resistance are good indicators that your aspiration is transformative in nature.
STEP 2: ASSESS — This is evaluating where you are today versus your aspiration. This requires honesty about your strengths and weaknesses.
In conducting our assessment, we learned:
* Look beyond your local borders when benchmarking your performance. Insularity can limit perspective and consequently your accomplishments.
* Validate "intuition" with analytics. Intuition often leads to poor decisions. Amazon's customer experience, the election of President Barack Obama, and the recent German World Cup win have come about as a result of analysing data to drive decisions and strategies.
* Leaders must look in the mirror too. Role modelling is a critical part of change language.
STEP 3: ARCHITECT — This is developing the action plan. My only caution is to avoid the phenomenon of analysis paralysis. I paraphrase Robert Burn's poem To A Mouse: "The best laid schemes of mice and men often go awry."
It is important to plan but quickly get to STEP 4: ACT.
Kodak was so synonymous with photos that the phrase "a Kodak moment" was coined. Yet, the company filed for bankruptcy in 2011. This company invented the core technology in digital cameras but failed to act and became obsolete. We often hear the phrase "justice delayed is justice denied". The same is true if we replace justice with value, because of the time value of money.
We learned it is better to pilot the action plan and then refine as you go along. This gets us to action, but mitigates the risks of limited planning.
Acting is also about courage. If you are embarking on something transformational, you will face resistance. But recall: "Smooth seas don't make for skillful sailors." So be brave and courageous in your actions.
STEP 5: ADVANCE, which answers the question "How do we improve?" Even when you have reached what you consider to be the highest heights of achievement or performance, you must continue to advance.
Apple, Samsung and Amazon are three of the best companies in the world in terms of market capitalisation, profitability, and growth. Yet, they are constantly transforming and, as a result, they are constantly growing.

At NCB, our next transformation is called "Bank of the Future". We have installed intelligent ABMs and kiosks in our branches, which allow our customers to avoid teller lines, pay reduced or no fees, transact business 24/7 in some locations, and continue to bank in the safe environs of our branches.
We look at transformation as critical to our sustainability. The public may wonder why we are making changes given how profitable we are. It is important to note that historical financial performance is no predictor of future performance. Companies that have generated billions in US dollars in profits — Lehman, Bear Stearns — have failed. Recall that three of the best performing companies in the world — Apple, Samsung, and Amazon — are still making continuous improvements.

In closing, let me re-emphasise how important it is for all citizens to play a role in Jamaica's transformation. Instead of asking "Where is the growth", recognise that the growth is within each of us. Let us commit to transitioning the dialogue from where's the growth to identifying the growth and pursuing it through transformation of our mindset and businesses.
As Daniel Burnham said: "Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men's blood and probably themselves will not be realised. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram, once recorded, will never die, but long after we are gone will be a living
thing, asserting itself with ever-growing insistence."

Spare some joy for Independence

Dancers at a Festival Grand Gala celebration

Jean Lowrie-Chin | Excerpt from Jamaica Observer column | 4 August 2014

I will listen to no ‘grinches’ today, those cynics trying to steal my joy in Emancipation and Independence.  We keep talking ourselves into this ditch of despair, instead of raising our voices in thanks for our many blessings.  If you think we are badly off, please check the international newscasts, where countries are at war and an airplane of ordinary passengers with everyday plans is shot out of the sky. 

If you think Jamaica is badly off, think of those countries where democracy is still a shaky experiment, while our system has become so well run that the Carter Centre has said there is no need for them to monitor Jamaica’s elections. Read our papers, listen to broadcast media and check the comments on social media – we are in the top ten for press freedom in the world.

Oh yes, we have tons of issues, and a drought to boot, but still much for which to be thankful.  The bougainvillea is preening itself in the hot weather and mango trees seem to have drawn extra sweetness out of this dry earth.

Thank goodness for resourceful Jamaicans, like that savvy taxi man who visits the spring at the back of the Constant Spring Golf Course almost every day.  This spring gives the area its name – several folks go there to fill large water bottles or give their cars a wash.  The foliage around the spring is dark green and yes, its waters are constant. 

Mama Joy Baker (R) receiving the CCRP Jamaica 50 Living Legacy Award from CCRP Chair Prof Denise Eldemire Shearer and former Vice Chair Aloun Assamba

Such is the constancy and resilience of our generous and dignified Jamaicans, rich and poor who continue to be the strength of their communities.  It was National Hero Norman Manley who said that Jamaica’s poor is surviving on the generosity of the poor.  I will never forget the tears of young Jermaine from Torrington Park as he wept at the funeral of our pensioner Miss Icilda Riley, who had been blind for several years.  His mother explained that in the yard where they lived, ‘Miss Icy’ as we called her, would watch and counsel the children, especially young Jermaine. 

We remember ‘Mama Joy’ Baker from Downtown Kingston who scrubbed the floors of bars to pay for the education of generations of inner city children, and opened over 300 saving accounts for them as she taught them the importance of thrift. 

Those of us who live more comfortable lives should be in awe of these good people who can still find love in their hearts, despite their marginal conditions.  How will we help them to achieve full emancipation and independence?  Be assured, they are not looking for charity.  They are willing to work, and will take the humblest jobs in order to get their children through school. 

Jamaica Tallawahs beat Guyana Amazon Warriors - 6 runs off last ball!

Chris Gayle at Sabina Park today

Jamaica Tallawahs (138-4) beat Guyana Amazon Warriors (137-9)

 Saturday 2nd August 2014 – Kingston, Jamaica. An outstanding all-round performance from Andre Russell saw the Jamaica Tallawahs defeat the Guyana Amazon Warriors for the second time in this year’s Limacol Caribbean Premier League. Russell took a wicket with the ball, outstanding catches in the field and played a lone hand with the bat to see his side home with a six off the very last ball. No other Jamaica batsman went at better than a run a ball as Russell managed 58 not out off just 24 deliveries. The target proved a stiff one for the home team, but it may have been a lot more challenging had it not been for a fine spell of quick bowling from Jerome Taylor, but this match was all about Russell.

A Powerplay that was a mix of dot balls, wickets and boundaries saw the Amazon Warriors reach 38 for two. The first wicket fell to Daniel Vettori who beat his fellow New Zealander Martin Guptill with a perfect arm ball that evaded his defence to see the batsman bowled for 15. The other man to go inside the first six overs was Mohammad Hafeez. He started with a boundary, looking to carry on where he had left off in the last match where he scored 30 runs off just 10 deliveries. He was perhaps too confident as he slashed at a short wide ball from David Bernard only to edge it through to Chadwick Walton.

While others struggled to get going, Lendl Simmons was able to find the boundary. While he was not finding singles, he was able to go at a decent rate thanks to some powerful strokes. He departed going for another six, hitting a ball from Nikita Miller high into the swirling Jamaican wind. It was one of those catches that are dropped more often than not, but not by Andre Russell. The strong breeze took the ball over his head and he dived backwards to take the catch behind him. Other catches will look more spectacular, there are few that will be as difficult.

Wickets continued to slow the visitor’s progress, with them finding themselves five down for just 77 runs inside the 13^th over. That brought together Christopher Barnwell and Jimmy Neesham who did their best to resurrect the Guyana effort with the bat. They put on the best partnership of the innings before Barnwell was undone by an excellent bouncer from Jerome Taylor who gave all the batsmen the hurry up with his pace. The four overs from Taylor went for just 14 runs as he bowled with real venom and with excellent variation. He conceded just one boundary while taking three vital wickets.

Only Neesham managed to stand firm as he finished with 35 off 26 balls, but he too fell to Taylor. He will feel that he missed out as he miscued a full toss straight to Russell at long off. It was an important innings, without it Guyana may have struggled to get past 100. As it was, they set 138 to win. It looked like too few, but as it was, it was nearly enough.

A measured start from the Tallawahs in the Powerplay saw them reach 33 for one in the first six overs. Chris Gayle was happy to be patient, although he was particularly hard on Steven Jacobs. His watchfulness was not rewarded as he was bowled by Hafeez, although it took a while for him to realise it, at first thinking the bails had been removed by Denesh Ramdin’s gloves.

The fall of Gayle’s wicket saw the run rate climb as Owais Shah, Adam Voges and Jordan Blackwood found it impossible to keep the scoreboard moving in the face of some tight bowling from Hafeez and Ronsford Beaton. Voges fell to the bowling of Jacobs for 12, but it could have been an even shorter stay had the Australian not been dropped by Veerasammy Permaul while on four. It was a simple chance, and Permaul will be glad that it did not prove too costly a mistake.

It looked as if the Tallawahs had left themselves too much to do, but Andre Russell was not ready to give up on this chase. He took 19 runs off a Beaton over as the young fast bowler’s mixed bag of a tournament continued. With three overs left, there was still 12 an over needed for the home side, and Russell was the key.

Russell played a brutal innings, but he had to win the game on his own as no one else in the Tallawahs line up could time the ball with the same precision. Even the ever economical Krishmar Santokie could not keep Russell under control as the 19^th over was taken for 14 by the Jamaican all rounder.

At the start of the last over, the Tallawahs still needed 13 to win. A fine first four balls from Neesham went for just three runs. That left ten needed from two balls. This presented no challenge for the barnstorming Russell who hit the last two balls for a four and a six to see his side home.

The win takes the Jamaicans up to ten points, and leaves them certain of qualification for the knockout stage of the tournament. The Amazon Warriors are still well placed to join them in the business end of the event, but two losses to their opponents in last year’s final will be a blow.

Most famous Dominican of Haitian descent gets her Dominican ID- on Emancipation Day

From Deacon Mike James:

Today  across the Commonwealth and beyond  1 August is celebrated as the anniversary  the day Slavery was finally abolished in 1838 throughout  the British Empire. (A public holiday in Jamaica and  Trinidad & Tobago)

By symbolic coincidence, in the DR, today Juliana Deguis received her national ID confirming her citizenship of the Dominican Republic where she was born 1 April 1984 of Haitian parents. See below ...

http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/local/2014/8/1/52318/Most-famous-Dominican-of-Haitian-descent-gets-her-ID

Santo Domingo: The most famous Dominican of Haitian descent on Friday received her ID card (cedula) at the Central Electoral Board (JCE) in a process her attorneys called fast and "free of trauma."

Juliana Deguis arrived at the JCE District Board at Centro de los Heroes (La Feria) at 10:30 under a downpour rain and after routine paperwork was handed her Dominican ID.

After receiving the cedula, Deguis said the first thing she'll do will be to enrol her four children in school and look for a job, to lead a normal life in her native town of Yamasa, eastern Monte Plata province.

Her lawyers Genaro Rincón and María Martínez said they were satisfied the their client's odyssey has come to an end, but vowed to continue their fight since many other descendants of Haitians are going through the same situation.

Juliana Deguis Pierre Is Now A Dominican

The Central Electoral Board (JCE) has announced that the application for an identity card (cedula) for Juliana Deguis Pierre is now complete and she can now collect her cedula.

Deguis Pierre has been at the forefront of Haitians demanding Dominican citizenship but to date had no identity card. The Constitutional Court had determined that her Dominican identity had been irregularly issued. Deguis benefited by expedited naturalization for humanitarian reasons under the process established by Law 169-14.

The Communications' Director of the JCE said that all her data has been confirmed and Deguis Pierre can now go to any cedula issuing office and pick up her card.

Emancipation Day

Date: 01/08
http://www.ttconnect.gov.tt/gortt/portal/ttconnect/eventnholiday/?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/gortt/wcm/connect/GorTT%20Web%20Content/ttconnect/home/events+and+holidays/emancipation+day

On August 1, 1838, the enslaved Africans throughout the British Empire in the Caribbean were finally freed from the bondage of chattel slavery.

In 1985, August 1, Emancipation Day, was declared a national holiday in Trinidad and Tobago. Since 1985, Emancipation celebrations have grown into a major national festival, where tens of thousands of people participate in various activities.

In 1997 Emancipation day was also declared a Public Holiday in Jamaica.

http://jis.gov.jm/information/emancipation/